Captain's yacht Large shuttle docked
at the ventral side of the saucer hulls of Galaxy-class and Sovereign-class
starships, usually deployed for diplomatic missions ("Star Trek:
Insurrection", TNGTM). The captain's yacht was
never shown in 178 TNG episodes, however, it is depicted in the STTNG
Technical Manual. According to Patrick Stewart, the captain's
yacht of the Enterprise-D is named "Calypso".

Cardiac
implant Also
known as artificial heart, medical device replacing the human heart (TNG:
"Samaritan Snare", "Tapestry", DS9: "Profit and
Lace").Jean-Luc Picard is the most prominent bearer of a cardiac implant. Ishka,
Rom's and Quark's mother, receives an artificial heart in 2374.

Cardiostimulator
Medical device to support the heart activity of a patient (TOS: "Journey to
Babel", VOY: "Cathexis").

Cargo bay Section of a starship
which is used for storage of various cargo. Cargo bays can be
accessed through docking ports or by means of cargo transporters
(generic).

Cascade failure In
particular, escalating failure in the positronic brain of a Soong-type android
(TNG: "The Offspring", "Inheritance"). More generally, a
failure propagating through any kind of technical system (TNG: "The Quality
of Life", VOY: "The Haunting of Deck Twelve").Although usually not explicitly called a cascade failure, we can observe on
several occasions how large distributed systems are destroyed by just attacking
one of its nodes (DS9: "Homefront", VOY: "Hunters", VOY:
"Endgame", ENT: "Zero Hour").

Cascade virus Computer
virus designed to spread through all connected memory cores, thereby disabling
the whole system (DS9: "For the Uniform").

Catwalk Informal name
for a passageway inside the nacelle of an NX-class starship (ENT: "The
Catwalk", "The Crossing").

Causality loop Sequence of events in
which cause and effect cannot be distinguished. A causality loop
is possible if a time travel is involved (VOY:
"Relativity").This phenomenon is extensively discussed on my time travel pages and is often referred
to as causality paradox or as predestination paradox. The Star Trek
Encyclopedia seems to have a different opinion on what a causality loop actually
is. In the book the term is used for isolated loops in which a certain sequence
of events is always repeating, like in TNG: "Cause and Effect" (and
more recently in ENT: "Future Tense").

Cellular disruption
Method used by the automated defense system of the Kalandan outpost, described
as blasting body cells from within (TOS: "That Which Survives").

Cellular metamorphosis
Technique of shapeshifting taught to Capt. Garth by the people of Antos IV (TOS:
"Whom Gods Destroy").Rather than mere "learning" how to assume another form, a technical
device is very likely involved.

Cellular regeneration and
entertainment chamber Medical device developed by Dr. Elias Giger
that is intended to extend the human lifespan by stimulating the cells. The
chamber functions by transmitting biogenic energy on a chromoelectric wavelength
(DS9: "In the Cards").Even if we forgive Giger his remarkably meaningless Technobabble, his
invention remains frivolous.

Cenotaph Coffin-like
container used by the Vhnori for the transition to the next emanation (VOY:
"Emanations").Strictly speaking, the cenotaph is neither a "technology" from a
scientific viewpoint, nor in the Vhnori religion where it is of ceremonial
nature.

Central plexus
Part of a Borg ship whose purpose is to control and link together the drones (VOY: "Unimatrix Zero").The difference between the central plexus
and the vinculum (VOY: "Infinite
Regress") never becomes clear.

Chambers coil Part of
a starship's communication system, whose failure can overload the whole system
("Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan").

Chromodynamic power module
Power system of the Pralor and Cravic Automated
Personnel Units. These modules are
designed in a way that they cannot be replicated, thereby preventing unwanted
reproduction of the androids (VOY: "Prototype").

Chroniton torpedo Krenim weapon that employs a temporal invariance of
typically 1.47µs to penetrate shields (VOY: "Before and After",
"Year of Hell").Chroniton torpedoes are featured in VOY: "Before
and After" and "Year of Hell". This weapon is obviously related to temporal
incursion. It is
not evident how the small temporal shift allows to pass through
Voyager's shields as if the latter had not been there 1.47µs
before. Maybe they are out of phase. Chroniton torpedoes only exist in the timeline
when the Krenim Imperium is powerful, and it is not clear whether
this is the case at the end of the episode "Year of Hell
II".

Chronometric data
Readings of the space-time continuum and of possible disruptions therein due to time
travel (VOY: "Future's End").

Class M Classification for a
planet with a
nitrogen-hydrogen atmosphere. Class-M planets provide comfortable
living conditions for a longer time, and the are suited for
permanent accommodation of humanoids (generic).A comprehensive definition of planet classes can only be found in
non-canon sources, e.g. in the book Star Trek Star Charts or the UFP Info Terminal. At
least K and L planet classes that also
provide breathable air, but seem to designate desert planets, are
mentioned in a couple of episodes. Star Trek inherently focuses
on Earth-like planets for dramaturgical reasons, since no
spacesuits are necessary and suitable sets are easy to find.
Still, inhabitable planets seem to ubiquitous, and every time a
shuttle is about to crash, there is "occasionally" a
Class-M or at least Class-K or L planet in the vicinity. ENT: "Strange New
World" establishes that the term "Class M" is obviously derived
from Vulcan "Minshara-Class". See more about canon planet classes: Planet Classification.

Cloaking deviceTechnology
of Romulan origin designed to render a starship invisible to the eye
and to sensors, also used by the Klingons and on the USS Defiant. The cloaking device
generates a space distortion which redirects light and sensor rays around the ship, so nothing is reflected from its
surface. Cloaking the ship consumes large amounts of power,
therefore the simultaneous activation of the warp drive may not have been possible
with the early cloaking devices in the 23rd century. Furthermore,
the use of weapons is usually not possible while the cloaking
device is activated (generic).The space distortion necessary to bend light rays is
equivalent to an enormous mass concentration and would certainly
crush the ship and crew, so additional measures must be taken to
compensate the effect inside the distortion.

Cloaking field In
particular, immensely powerful cloaking used by the Aldeans to hide their whole
planet (TNG: "When the Bough Breaks").

Cloning Technique to grow a new body that is genetically
identical to an existing lifeform (TNG: "Up the Long Ladder", DS9:
"A Man Alone"). See also genetic engineering.Cmdr. Riker and Dr. Pulaski were cloned without their consent
in TNG: "Up the Long Ladder". Still, shooting at their
clones with phasers was ethically wrong. The Vorta are a complete race of cloned
individuals, and a Vorta like Weyoun can simply be recreated by
the Founders if their predecessor is dead or regarded as
unreliable.

Coaxial warp drive FTL
propulsion technology which is described as bending space, not subspace,
as opposed to conventional warp drive.The description of the coaxial warp drive of "folding the fabric of
space"
(VOY: "Vis-à-Vis") sounds much like what several people,
including author Lawrence Krauss (The Physics of Star Trek), claim how
normal warp drive could work. There is no clue what the term
"coaxial" may stand for.

Cochrane Measure for the subspace field stress. The unit
cochrane is
employed to measure the degree of a subspace field
distortion and hence the power of a warp drive. The unit was named in honor of Zefram Cochrane who built the
first Terran vessel to achieve warp speed (TNG: "Remember Me",
"The Outcast").The TNGTM sheds more light on the cochrane unit. The cochrane
value equals the speed ratio v/c for the given warp factor. Warp 1 and therefore v=c is achieved for a subspace
distortion of 1 cochrane. Values smaller than 1 cochrane
correspond to sublight speed. At Warp 10, finally, the cochrane
value becomes infinite because of Eugene's limit, and so does the apparent
velocity. Cochranes are also used to evaluate an impulse drive or an FTL computer core.

Collar of Obedience
Collar worn by each of the gladiators on Triskelion, with a color code
indicating their particular Provider. The Providers exert control over their
thralls by being able to tighten the collars (TNG: "The Gamesters of
Triskelion").

CommunicatorPersonnel subspace communication device,
originally hand-held, later in the 24th century integrated in the
Starfleet badge; the latter is also referred to as comm badge.
The communicator serves to establish a voice contact to another
person or computer and provides lock-on contact for the
transporter. The comm badge is usually programmed with a crew
member's individual bioelectric data, which is verified through a
dermal sensor. The communicator will fail when used by an
unauthorized person (generic).Recent cellular phones are smaller than the original
communicator, which is a clear indication for the progress in
electronics since the 1960s and could possibly render TOS
ridiculous. Still, it has to be taken into account that subspace
communication is far beyond our time.

Computer systemData processing, transfer and
storage system utilized for a wide variety of control purposes,
for scientific analysis and as a library computer. All
components of the computer system are connected with each other
and with the main computer core by the ODN. A number of subprocessors is distributed
throughout the ship to supply additional computing capacity,
improve speed and provide redundancy. On the most recent Starfleet ships the
latter may be bioneural circuits (generic).In 24th Federation
starships the computer cores are equipped with subspace field
generators which enable FTL data processing and transmission (TNGTM). As the data volumes as well as the clock frequencies of
computers rise, light speed becomes the main limiting speed
factor. Moreover, distances of several hundred meters have to be covered within starships. Hence, FTL data processing is inevitable
in 24th century computers.

Containment field Generic term for a
forcefield used to
isolate antimatter in their storage pods or hazardous biological
or chemical specimens in a science lab (generic).

Containment module
Special container for hazardous cargo or medical specimens. Isolated using a
containment field (generic).

Controller In
particular, the computer controlling the subterranean civilization of the Eymorg
on Sigma Draconis VI. The Controller is in need of a humanoid brain, which has
to be replaced periodically to remain operative (TOS: "Spock's
Brain").

Cortical implant Piece
of technology designed to provide a direct interface with a humanoid brain. Used
by the Breen and most prominently by the Borg. The latter is also called
cortical node (DS9:
"'Til Death Do Us
Part", VOY: "Night", "The Voyager Conspiracy", "Imperfection").

Cortical stimulator Medical device that stimulates brain activity
through electrical shocks in
case of severe injuries (TNG: "The Inner Light", VOY:
"Cathexis", "Flashback", Coda", ENT: "Observer
Effect").Unlike a neural stimulator, which probably
keeps up a certain level of brain activity, the cortical stimulator may be used
to reactivate a defunct brain in the first place.

Counterinsurgency program
Computer program on Terok Nor devised to put down a possible rebellion of the
Bajoran ore workers, up to the self-destruction of the station (DS9: "Civil
Defense").In the DS9 episode the program was accidentally activated on Deep Space 9.
A surprising additional subroutine took away the authority from Gul Dukat
because of his alleged failure to cope with the rebellious Bajorans.

Cranial implant
Biotechnological device developed by the Cardassian Obsidian Order for their
operatives. The implant is devised to release endorphins, thereby making the
operative more resistant to pain (DS9: "The Wire").In "The Wire" Garak suffers from a malfunctioning implant, which
was never designed for long-term operation.

Cryostasis State of low biological activity in a human body,
achieved by preserving the body in a cooling chamber (generic).Cryostasis was featured in a number of episodes, usually as a
technology for long-range space travel (TOS: "Space
Seed", TNG: "The Emissary", VOY: "11:59", "Star Trek Into Darkness") or to preserve a
genetic pool (VOY: "The 37's"). A related technology is
cryonics, meaning that the bodies of patients with incurable
diseases are frozen after their deaths (TNG: "The Neutral
Zone"), hoping they might be revived in the future.

Cybernetics Study of
artificial lifeforms and robotics (generic).

Cytoplasmic stimulator
Medical device that stimulates the production of cytoplasm in body cells. This device can be
replicated (VOY: "Phage").